CREATIVE EVOLUTION 117
Radstock I and Dr. F. B. Meyer, she underwent a soul-
stirring religious experience, which changed her life.
Immediately she began Ragged School work In Richmond;
and into it she threw all her powers.
After some years of this work, in the autumn of 1871,
Miss Elmslie organized a large tea-meeting and entertain-
ment for all poor lads of the district; and having heard
much of Barnardo's achievements, she invited him out to
speak. He came; and after having tea with the lads delivered
an address which riveted the attention of all. But not till
his talk was over did he meet Miss Elmslie. Up till then she
had been too busy even to receive the speaker; but when
they did meet both were impressed. Barnardo admired the
skill with which Miss Elinslie had organized the event;
she admired the magnetic influence he exercised over her
roughest boys; but each also admired the other for reasons
they could not have defined, even to themselves.
So much for their first meeting, but fate decreed that
they meet again next day. At Paddington Station, Barnardo
had booked third class for a destination twro hours from
London, when he ran into Miss Elmslie and her father,
bound by the same train for a more distant station. They,
however, were travelling first class. So, rushing back, he
changed his ticket and joined the Elmslies to his destina-
tion. This chance meeting increased "admiration" on
both sides. Barnardo admitted afterwards that Cupid
then directed a dart at him, while Miss Elmslie confided
to friends that the little rascal had robbed her of her
accustomed calm.
But Barnardo was engrossed in his work; he had no
time even to think of love, so Miss Elmslie and her charm
he tried to dismiss from mind—but in vain. Her vision
haunted his dreams. Not, however, for eighteen months
1 Lord Radstock's life was a source of blessing to thousands. He devoted his
means to religious and humanitarian ends; at his own expense conducting
evangelistic campaigns in different countries.